The King’s Man (2021) Review

The King’s Man (2021)

The King’s Man follows the Duke of Oxford, who must race against time to stop a secret group of tyrants and criminal masterminds, as they plot a war that could wipe out millions of people and destroy humanity. 

While I originally gawked at the idea of a prequel to the wildly successful Kingsman: The Secret Service, probably one of the most outside the box and enjoyable spy movies of my time, I must say, this succeeded where others would normally fail—it gave us a reason for such a prequel, that is just as zany but in a World War 1 setting. With this introduction, we get the reasoning and the events behind The Kingsman and why they were formed in the first place, to spy and protect without the guise of a government and their politics. For a pacifist like Orlando, The Great War (and any war for that matter) is a pointless affair. But as is the case with war, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, using the death of his son to fuel his fire and put an end to the Shepherd’s plans. 

A reoccurring trend (or I guess, one that starts here) in these movies is the shadow organization, and while in the past, these have been pulled off in hilarious fashion, I’m just not feeling this one. Dare I say (for a Kingsman movie), it feels too absurd, gathering every early 20th Century bad guy to play their role (Rasputin, Hitler, Lenin, etc.) in toppling the world. Just a very weird concept, and one that isn’t used that well (did I mention they almost look intentionally ridiculous?), though as far as third act, final showdowns go, it made for a really exciting finish that really showcased the action prowess of Fiennes, Hounsou, Arterton, and Goode. 

We get an amusing cast as well, starring Daniel Brühl, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Rhys Ifans, Gemma Arterton, Harris Dickinson, Djimon Hounsou, and Ralph Fiennes. Classically trained, Fiennes was a shoe-in for a role such as Orlando’s, bringing manners and a gentlemanly quality that are a perfect fit for the founder of the Kingsman, with some equally enjoyable performances from Arterton and Hounsou, who excel in all manner of thrills. 

The King’s Man, directed by Matthew Vaughn, is a longwinded, sprawling global opus that certainly takes its time in motivating Orlanda to break his vow, but when it does, it’s just as exciting as what we’ve come to expect from this blockbuster spy franchise. 

8.1/10